Filip Meysman is research professor within the Department of Biology at the University of Antwerp (Belgium), where he heads the GeoBiology research group. His research team (~25 members) embraces interdisciplinary approaches (biology-chemistry-physics) to investigate the intriguing and exciting phenomenon of microbial electricity (www.microbial-electricity.eu). A specific goal is to uncover the design principles of natural highly conductive protein materials in order to create novel biobased, organic conductors with extraordinary properties. This provides an entirely new avenue towards the production of novel lightweight, flexible and biodegradable materials for electronics. Filip Meysman also coordinates the Centre of Excellence on Microbial Systems Technology, which is one of the 15 flagship research initiatives within the university and consolidates the expertise in microbial ecology and technology across various departments at UAntwerpen. Over his career, he has authored >170 research articles and received several awards that recognize scientific excellence (FWO Odysseus, ERC consolidator, NWO Vici, Prigogine medal). Additionally, Filip Meysman is highly active in science communication and scientific outreach to the broader public (www.curieuzeneuzen.be), for which he received the Annual Prize for Science Communication in 2017 and 2022 (Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and Arts) as well as Golden Medal of Honor from the Flemish Government. 

Plenary Details

Wednesday 1 July

How microbes discovered electricity way before Allessandro Volta

The ability to create electricity, that is to send a stream of electrons through a thin wire, lies at the heart of modern technology. Most people believe that we (humans) were the first to exploit the benefits of electricity, after Allesandro Volta invented the first battery in 1799. Recent findings however show that long before Volta, microbes already evolved highly conductive wiring systems that enable electrical currents over extremely long distances. Electron transport in biological systems is classically thought to occur over nanometre distances. Yet, the recent discovery of cable bacteria proves that biological currents can run over centimeter distances, thus increasing the known distance by six orders of magnitude and giving a whole new meaning to the term long-range biological transport. These electrical currents are channeled through protein fibers embedded in the cell envelope, which display an extraordinary electrical conductivity for a biological material, exceeding that of the best organic conductors currently used in electronics. Here I will present the latest insights into the mechanism of long-range conduction in cable bacteria, and the molecular structure that enables such extremely efficient conduction. Our ongoing research aims for the controlled, recombinant production of these conductive nanofibers, thus creating a window of opportunity for radically new technological applications such as bio-electronics. The resulting “proteonic” fiber materials will allow far more sustainable production and recycling pathways, thus creating major breakthroughs towards a circular and carbon-neutral economy (e.g. by reducing e-waste). Proteonic fiber materials have the potential to revolutionize applications in health care (electronic skin patches, metal-free implants), textile (smart clothing), packaging industry (biodegradable RFID tags), and environmental protection (dissolving bio-sensors).